From a slave to the Great Qian Martial Saint

The autumn and spring examinations, as two major examinations of the Zhechong Academy, are extremely important as a direct assessment of the students' learning outcomes.

However, some students who were recruited through the imperial examinations, relying on their family background, did not take these two examinations seriously. It was one thing for them to be lazy, but at the same time, they corrupted the atmosphere of the academy.

To motivate students, the Zhechong Academy offers extra rewards to the top scorers in the autumn and spring exams.

The rewards vary each time. The top scorer in this autumn exam can go to the Star-Picking Platform and talk to Zhuge Liang.

Chen Shi doubted how Zhuge Liang could possibly communicate with him, given that he had been dead for centuries. However, since the Zhechongyuan (a government office) had designated this as a reward, and it was said that such rewards had been given several times before, it was unlikely to be a mere bluff.

Zhuge Liang was a man of extraordinary talent, proficient in battle formations, mechanisms, and magic arts. Perhaps he really could transcend time and space to communicate with future generations.

"Follow me."

Late at night, on the back mountain of Zhechongyuan, a man in blue walked ahead, and after giving a reminder, he suddenly quickened his pace.

Chen Shi followed closely behind without any difficulty.

The man in blue nodded secretly and ran straight ahead.

As a reward for the autumn exams, it can be claimed at any time. As long as the Zhechong Academy still exists, it will be honored and is not limited to a certain period.

Chen Shi originally intended to wait until there was a need later, but he didn't expect the need to come so quickly.

Although the Zhechongyuan occupies a large area, how long can it take two people at their current speed?

In less than a quarter of an hour, after crossing a hill, a thatched hut could be vaguely seen in the dim night.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that while it was indeed a thatched hut, it had no roof.

"arrive?"

Seeing the man stop, Chen Shi couldn't help but ask a question.

Chen Shi opened his mouth, looking completely bewildered.

With such an evocative name, even if it's not a magnificent pavilion, it should at least be a high platform.

What's a thatched hut!

It was far from what Chen Shi had expected.

The man in blue smiled and led Chen Shi straight over.

Beside the thatched hut stood a hunched old man.

"Mr. Wu."

Upon approaching, the man in blue gave a slight bow in greeting.

The hunchbacked old man simply nodded slightly, then looked at Chen Shi.

"Do you know the rules?"

"What are the rules?"

Chen Shi was taken aback. Were there any rules to follow when talking to Zhuge Liang?

The old man remained expressionless and spoke directly.

"First, you are only allowed to ask one question."

"Just one question?"

Chen Shi first frowned, then nodded.

Zhuge Liang was known as the Sage of Wisdom. Having finally obtained the opportunity to speak with him, it was not a casual chat, but rather a request for his guidance.

Therefore, without Chen Shi saying anything, the old man knew that he had a question to ask.

It's a rare opportunity, and it's a real shame that you can only ask one question.

After all, he was a wise sage, so he should have many things to teach Chen Shi.

Secondly, one must not inquire about matters concerning future generations.

"What does this mean?"

"No matter how wise and resourceful Zhuge Liang was, he did not have the ability to predict the future. How could he answer your question if he did not know what would happen in the future?"

"so."

Chen Shi nodded, understanding.

For example, when he asked Gu Hanying when she would marry him, no matter how powerful Zhuge Liang was, he could not possibly know about Gu Hanying hundreds of years later, or about the emotional entanglements between them.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be Zhuge Liang, but a deity.

In other words, we need to ask about things that Zhuge Liang already knew in his time.

This makes the scope much smaller.

But that's alright, since Chen Shi's question is how to break the Eight Trigrams Formation. Since the Eight Trigrams Formation was created by Zhuge Liang, he must know the answer to that question.

Thirdly, the question must not exceed ten characters.

Why is that?

Chen Shi blinked, looking at the old man with a puzzled expression, finding this rather perplexing.

The old man remained calm and spoke softly.

"I don't know, but if it exceeds ten characters, Zhuge Liang should not respond."

"Uh, okay."

Chen Shi chuckled dryly, never expecting that the old Marquis Wu had such a quirk.

Then look at the old man to see if he has any more to say.

The old man didn't say anything more.

A moment later, he took a stone out of his pocket.

The man in blue next to him also took out a piece.

One black and one white, like two swimming fish, together form a yin-yang symbol.

"Stand in the center, grasp the Tai Chi Fish Stone, and infuse your blood and energy into it. Then you can sense the Star-Picking Platform and ask questions to Zhuge Liang."

As the old man spoke, he handed the Yin Fish in his hand to Chen Shi.

The man in blue also handed over his piece of yang fish.

"Understood."

Holding the two Tai Chi fish stones in his hands, Chen Shi nodded slightly.

This is like having two keys, each held by a different person, which can largely prevent anyone from secretly using the Star-Picking Platform.

It seems that the Star-Picking Platform cannot be used casually; otherwise, the opportunity to converse with Zhuge Liang would not be so precious.

With the rules clear, Chen Shi didn't delay any longer and immediately entered the thatched hut.

It was ten zhang in circumference, and its shape was the same as the thatched hut seen from the outside; it was a circular stone platform. Apart from this stone platform, there was nothing else.

Looking down for a closer look, one can see that the surface of the stone platform has faintly carved patterns, which seem to be a kind of magic array.

Is the so-called Star-Picking Platform actually a kind of magic array...?

Indeed, if it weren't for the power of heaven and earth, how could Zhuge Liang, who lived hundreds of years ago, have been able to communicate with later generations?

"Give it a try!"

Putting aside these thoughts for the moment, Chen Shi stood in the center of the stone platform, assembled the yin-yang fish stone, and held it in his palm.

As the old man said, take a deep breath and infuse it with your blood and energy.

Buzz!

The next moment, a faint buzzing sound rang out, and the world seemed to turn upside down.

When Chen Shi came to his senses, although he was still standing in the center of the stone platform, the sky above him was already filled with stars.

"This is……"

Chen Shi's mouth was slightly open, his face showing astonishment.

He remembered clearly that it was a cloudy night.

Is this not the actual celestial constellations, but rather the effect of the Star-Picking Platform formation?

These billions of stars seem within reach; the name "Star-Picking Platform" is truly fitting.

"Truly worthy of being called Zhuge Liang."

After calming himself down a bit, Chen Shi was about to ask his question.

But the next moment, he suddenly froze.

Looking at the starry sky above, his expression gradually became solemn.

After a long while, he finally spoke.

"What is the secret to winning every battle?"

Chen Shi originally intended to ask about the method to break the Eight Trigrams Formation, but when he realized the mystery of the Star-Picking Platform, he suddenly changed his mind.

Zhuge Liang was a genius who appeared only once in a thousand years, a wise sage among men. If one could receive his guidance, one would benefit from it for a lifetime.

Otherwise, the opportunity to enter the Star-Picking Platform would not be so precious.

If Chen Shi only inquired about how to break the formation diagram, he would be missing a crucial secret.

So just before he was about to speak, he suddenly changed his mind.

Since Zhuge Liang emerged from seclusion, he fought hundreds of battles, large and small, over several decades, and never suffered a defeat despite his flawless strategies!

In that case, he must have a brilliant method to win every battle!

Buzz!

When the question was asked, the array sensed it, and the stars above seemed to shift and form four characters.

"...using the strong to attack the weak."

As Chen Shi whispered these four words, he couldn't help but frown.

Is this the secret to winning every battle?